Mikyo Riggs began his martial arts training in 1990, instantly drawn to freestyle fighting before the world knew it as mixed martial arts. In his quest to become the best fighter he could, he studied boxing, muay thai, and enshin karate, and earned a black belt from Ralph Gracie in the grappling art of Gracie Jiu-jitsu. Eventually, though, he realized he didn't want to just use these techniques in the ring, he wanted to help others along the path he'd followed. So, he founded Marin Mixed Martial Arts in 2006.

Today, his school teaches students of all ages a wide range of martial arts—exactly the way Mikyo himself learned. Alongside Jiu-jitsu they teach muay thai kickboxing, kali stick fighting, wrestling, and a women-specific Jiu-jitsu and self-defense class. Yet no matter the class, the staff applies a simple, singular core value: 100% technique. They believe that more than strength or speed, practice always wins, so they encourage their students to bring discipline and focus to their training. Students have responded positively, voting the studio the Best Martial Arts School four times, most recently in the Pacific Sun's 2013 Reader's Choice Awards.